Coal Export Terminal Suffers Second Big Setback: State Permit Is Denied

"The controversial proposed Gateway Pacific coal expert terminal suffered its latest body blow on Monday with denial of its application for an aquatic land lease at the Cherry Point site north of Bellingham.

The denial follows and stems from rejection of the terminal last month by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which found that the terminal would impact treaty fishing rights of the Lummi Nation.

Because the Corps denied a permit, and the project must have 'all necessary federal permits,'  the state Department of Natural Resources 'cannot approve the lease application,' State Land Commissioner Peter Goldmark wrote to project developers.

'Accordingly, DNR will take no further action on the application,' Goldmark added."

Joel Connelly reports for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer June 6, 2016.